Staffordshire council slammed for 'failing' its pupils

Half of 18 primary schools they visited were found to not be providing children with a good education.

And Staffordshire County Council was criticised in a letter from Ofsted that said: "The local authority's engagement and communication with schools, particularly governing bodies, is not fully effective."

Three of those were put into special measures and six were judged to need improvement. Nine of the schools were rated good or outstanding.

The inspections were to establish why children in some parts of the country have a much lower chance of attending a good or better school than their peers in other similar areas.

And opposition Labour councillors have today criticised council bosses and said not enough was being done to raise standards.

But bosses insist that standards are improving - and they flatly deny the claims that they are less familiar with schools than they used to be.

Shadow cabinet member for learning and skills Councillor Sue Woodward said: "This really is a damning verdict on the way the Conservative administration at Staffordshire County Council has dealt with less than adequate results. While they have been rearranging the deckchairs, they have been failing our schools and, more importantly, failing our children.

"For the past 12 months at least, things have gone backwards not forwards and this just can not continue."

And Labour councillor Maureen Compton criticised Entrust, a joint venture between the council and Capita which runs education in the county. She added: "The destruction of the Local Education Authority and the privatisation of support services through Entrust have caused concern and confusion about who is responsible for which service.

"Now there is fragmentation – no-one knows who is responsible for which service and schools need support and clarity about services offered."

But education boss Councillor Ben Adams said: "We are disappointed with Ofsted's findings but it is quite incorrect to extrapolate that this mirrors a trend across the county's schools."

He said 74 per cent of more than 100 schools inspected over the last year were good or outstanding.

And he insisted the council was already aware of the schools that were struggling before the inspections were carried out and was working with them.

The council says action taken includes better monitoring of school performance data and intervention where necessary to challenge heads and governors, offer advice and commission support.

They said there will also be 'targeted interventions where schools need specific support', such as in planning and teaching a certain subject.

Schools rated good will also be given training to improve to outstanding.

There around 295 primary schools in Staffordshire. In total, 74 per cent of those are currently rated good or outstanding.

Outstanding schools are Mary Howard CofE Primary and Thomas Barnes Primary, Tamworth, while good schools are St Chad's CofE Primary, Newcastle; St Margaret's CofE Junior, Newcastle; Hob Hill Methodist Primary, Rugeley; All Saints CofE First, Leek; St Saviour's CofE Primary, Talke, Stoke; Hayes Meadow Primary, Rugeley; Our Lady and St Werburgh's Catholic Primary, Newcastle;

Schools told they require improving include were Kingsfield First School in Biddulph; Leek First; Springcroft Primary School, Blythe Bridge; St Paul's CofE Primary School, Stafford; St Patrick's Catholic Primary, Stafford; Amington Heath Primary School and Nursery, Tamworth.

Silkmore Community Primary in Stafford, Bhylls Acre Primary, Wolverhampton, and Castlechurch Primary, Stafford, were all put in special measures.